Rhubarb & Custard

SMOJ. Hands down the best, truest rhubarb I’ve ever encountered in a fragrance. The straight liquid is the real deal with a hint of buttery creaminess. On, it’s quite literally rhubarb and... custard. It’s taken me straight back to childhood and memories of that strange and fascinating red tinted celery whose tartness pairs like no other with sugar when baked into pastry. Rhubarb manages to maintain its tart and sharp edge regardless of the amount of added sugar and somehow enhances everything it’s paired with. Much like salt. Though nothing like salt at all. A culinary marvel of vegetation. Botanically a vegetable, legally and culinarily a fruit, with a flavor like nothing else. I’ve never had rhubarb with custard (perhaps a British thing?) but can say I’ve been missing out on something very special. This pairing does, however, remind me of a childhood treat of sabayon and cooked strawberries. And if you’ve not experienced that wonder, I insist you find it or learn to make it. A simple custard of three ingredients: egg yolks, sugar, Marsala wine. For some loft, fold in freshly whipped cream. Sweat some cut strawberries in a pan with or without sugar. Pour over custard. Best eaten while custard still warm. You’re welcome. Rhubarb and Custard has put all other gourmand fragrances to shame (admittedly, a low bar in the fragrance world of today). It also designates all other “rhubarb” fragrances as pretenders. Rhubarb and Custard is a wearable dessert without being recognizably so. No syrupy sugars, candies, or overwrought vanillas. No fruit fantasies or teenage aspirations of transforming oneself into a walking cupcake. This is mouth moistening adult pleasure. Enjoy your edible self all alone or in the company of others. They’ll likely have no idea why they’re enjoying the nearness of you.

I've never had as immediate of an emotional reaction to a fragrance as I did to this - I look one sniff and my eyes welled up. It caught me off guard! I spent my childhood summers making rhubarb pies with my grandparents, and this immediately brought me back. I've never loved gourmands, but have always had a penchant for interesting vanilla scents - my signature for the last few years has been commodity gold. My favorite thing about commodity gold is how juniper sparkles above the creamy, comforting base, and I think rhubarb & custard has touched on a similar magic. To me, the rhubarb is sharp and a little acidic from the jump, and managers to not disappear as the scent wears. I feel deeply myself when wearing this fragrance in a way that's hard to explain - I feel like my childhood and adult selves are wrapped around me in a protective blanket. I think this fragrance CAN work on slow sun-gold summer mornings and breezy evenings, but I am so excited to wear it into fall and winter. I get a little bit of mint in the top notes, and definitely the hay as it wears, but on me it maintains a certain dryness throughout the wear and doesn't veer into weed/something more dank.

It is unreal how much the opening of this fragrance smells like actual pie, complete with buttery, flaky crust. The rhubarb gives it just a touch of slightly tart brightness, but isn’t an overwhelming presence in the fragrance to my nose. As the scent wears throughout the day, the pie crust/graham cracker effect gives way to a soft fruity vanilla that sits fairly close to the skin and has moderate to good longevity. However, I have to say, I’m still trying to decide what the best performance conditions are for Rhubarb & Custard... When I first tried it, it was a hot day in July, and it performed and projected like a beast, almost to the point of being too much. I thought, “Better put this aside until the fall.” But when the weather cooled down, the sillage did too. Further experimentation is required!

Rhubarb & Custard... Oh, how I love you. Initially, I wasn't a fan. Now? It sings on my skin. The tart opening with the sourness of the rhubarb doesn't last too long on me, but that vanilla custard dry down lasts from when I put it on until I wash it off which is usually about 18 or 19 hours. I put it on before bed and don't bother wearing anything else the next day, it's that addictive. There's a period where the custard meets with the zing of citrus and rhubarb and it's really quite intriguing. It does actually remind me of stewed rhubarb and custard that I had as a kid and have occasionally now as an adult. I cannot praise this as much as I want to. It does seem to be very subjective, though. I would say try before you buy.

Realistic rhubarb crumble. It's so beautiful. I just love it ... The citruses are just there to support the rhubarb acidity much longer. In the end I just smell rhubarb (if I didn't know there was some citruses in there). The biscuit (or cake, crumble whatever) note is noticeable from the first spray and stays there. It stays linear over time. I was worried that this would decay into some sort of abstract vanilla scent but it does not. I wore that one during today's heat wave and despite the ratings down there this perfume is perfect to wear during summer time. It's a light gourmant, not heavy at all. Rhubarb desserts are a Summer thing after all so why not :)

I'm working my way through their taster sample set and not a dud so far. I was a little reticent about trying this one, as my OH detests rhubarb, which is a shame as I like it. To my nose the opening notes gives me a very realistic freshly cooked rhubarb smell. That tangy, sharp scent is quickly toned down by the vanilla, but not in a super sweet way, which is good as I don't like very sweet scents. The rhubarb remains with a delicious custard pairing and like Finissa, reminded me too of my childhood. My OH braved a closer sniff and thankfully to him it smells of pudding, though he couldn't discern the rhubarb clearly. All in all a winning fragrance.

I have seen comments elsewhere that describe a cannabis-like impression for some, but that is not the case for me, even in the drydown. I grow rhubarb and use it in cooking and beverages, so I am quite familiar with the natural scent. From the first spray, strong sour rhubarb dominates. After four hours or so, the rhubarb fades enough that the custard notes can be discerned and the result is a delicious rhubarb custard pie--and if you have ever smelled one baking, you will be transported to that memory. Really a treat for this gourmand lover, well done 4160 Tuesdays!

This is all cozy, creamy vanilla on me and I love it. I blindbought this after trying to find a bottle of creamy vanilla crumble to no avail. I figured if Rhubarb and Custard is 29 parts of vanilla custard this will smell relatively close to CVC and boy was I right. They are pretty much exactly the same. The only difference is you get a little bit of sharpness from the rhubarb on the top , which dissipates and just makes the fragrance more wearable in the heat. Which I appreciate living in Arizona.

I adore this fragrance. However, one morning I came downstairs wearing it and my husband, who had never smelled it before and had no idea what I put on, took me aside and said listen, are you wearing CBD oil or something? Because you really smell like weed. Later I learned that some people think 4160 Tuesdays' Rhubarb and Citrus smells like weed, so I guess he wasn't wrong, but I'm sort of careful about wearing it in places where people might be..concerned. However, I didn't get that smell myself.

To me this smells like a gourmet fresh out of the oven rhubarb pie from from your local bakery. opening has a strong zesty and slightly sour rhubarb note that might throw some people off, however once the scent settles in, the sourness slowly fades away while the scent evolves into a delicious creamy and buttery scent from the custard and cracker note. its very mouth watering and inviting. longevity is decent but the sillage stays fairly close to skin. Opening scent- 5.9/10 Dry down- 8.9/10

I’m a huge fan of this concoction. I really enjoy a combo of sweet and tart and another one I put in the same category is vanilla grapefruit by LaVanila. They both put me in a great mood and seem to fit any season—probably due to the strongly contrasting notes. Fairly long lasting though not a record breaker by any means. I will call it a bit feminine but I’m pretty sure I’d wear it if I was a guy because it’s too good to miss.

This is one of the most comforting fragrances in my collection. It sticks true to the 4160 Tuesdays promise of blending both synthetic and natural ingredients so both can meet their full effect. The rhubarb is tart, the vanilla is creamy and delicious. The two mix meet to create a true rhubarb with custard effect, and it feels like there's some crumbly biscuits on top. Home spun comfort done best!

this is SOOOOOOO lovely! i was a bit scared of this because rhubarb can be so acerbic but here it's so light and sweet with the perfect amount of tartness and a hint of smokiness. it lasts forever but i wish the projection and sillage were better, bc with a better performance it'd be top tier. if you like less loud scents, though, this could be perfect for you! overall rating: 🩷🩷🩷🩷💔 4.5/5

This perfume is the perfect foil to high summer in the gritty city. The astringent rhubarb is refreshing, but has a grown up hint of sweetness. I don’t find it long-lasting, so the vanilla drydown isn’t really apparent unless I go looking for it. I’d love a modification of this with a light tea rose - It’d be like a perfect iced gin cocktail...

Really gorgeous - opens with a photo-realistic(!) rhubarb and dries down to a fabulous creamy vanilla, which is prevented from becoming too sweet by the astringency of the rhubarb, which sort of ebbs and flows. Truly gourmand.

In olfactive terms, this is photorealistic rhubarb and custard. Wow. I love it. A great and unique gourmand. Creates a wonderful scent bubble as well. For lovers of rhubarb, this is a must try.

Valleyofthemoms, I can’t help but wonder if you got ahold of the rhubarb and citrus cologne, from 4160 Tuesdays. That one would be sharper and be missing the sweet desserty elements.

Very rhubarb, very vanilla; realistic smelling dessert frag.

Rhubarb & Custard. How it calls out to that dusty bakery memory tucked somewhere behind my ribs. Where I once stood, transfixed by a glistening tart: stewed rhubarb bleeding into a sun-warm custard, flaky pastry barely holding. This fragrance doesn’t replicate that moment, no, it interprets it. Bends it, loops it into something both brighter and more abstract. But it nods at me, a secret of scent. The rhubarb comes first: raw, pink-green, almost nose-tingling in that acerbic zing. Not sugared or softened in heat, just juice perhaps, or barely stewed with a tiny crystal crust on top. Think sharp fruity esters giving a sour, vaporous zing. Biting into something bright red and the tiniest bit fizzy. Our tangy delight sits atop vanilla sponge, tender soft and custardy. More cream anglaise than pudding, not thick or eggy but pillowy. Lactonic and not fatty, the sweetness is restrained, not so much shy as precise, pastel. Letting the rhubarb stay the star. But it’s there, no doubt, brushing everything with gourmand velvet. Whispers of lemon crumble drift in, warm fruit-puff filling out the sourness. A playful, buttery ghost note grounding the acidity. As remarked by a fellow reviewer however, there is this oily glisten in Rhubard & Custard's drydown. Waxy and oxidized, slightly sharp, pure vanilla grease. Like custard’s skin forming, unsettlingly accurate, yet adding weight that wasn’t asked for. But not a dealbreaker. I can see how it fits into the whole olfactory story, intentional or not. A 1960s dessert recipe, stained and loved. Not patisserie, just sweetness made in good faith. It's not that perfect rhubarb tart I'm vying for. But that's a memory for you!: imperfect, but deeply felt.

The most realistic, natural smelling rhubarb gourmand ever. It reminds me a lot of my childhood, when my mom used to make rhubarb juice by cooking up rhubarb with sugar and vanilla, straining it through a sieve or cloth and diluting it with water. It smells very much like rhubarb cooking on the stove and homemade rhubarb juice. Like the name suggests, the rhubarb is balanced with some sweet vanilla custard. There is a hint of a pastry note in this, but it doesn't smell burnt, bready or too sugary, it's just nice and warm and adds some substance. I usually prefer more blended, "perfumey" gourmands over the simple and realistic ones, but the mix of vanilla and rhubarb in this is interesting and wearable without a lot of other additions. When I first tried this, I thought it would be a complete love, especially due to the nostalgia and warm, fuzzy feelings it evokes. But then I noticed a very slight waxy, oily undertone, which sadly bumps this down to a like. Maybe it's just me. I still think everyone who wants to smell like rhubarb and custard should definitely try this.